Know Before You Vote: Proposal 1 ... - Detroit Regional Chamber

1 downloads 150 Views 573KB Size Report
Page 1 ... elimination of the tax and creates a more stable funding system for local services like police, fire, schools
Know Before You Vote: Proposal 1 Communications Toolkit

About Proposal 1 First, thank you for taking the time to help spread awareness about the importance of repealing Michigan’s Personal Property Tax and voting “Yes” on Proposal 1. Educating voters is key to a successful campaign and hopefully this toolkit will prove beneficial in providing your members or audience with valuable information in advance of the August 5 election. Proposal 1 addresses a long-standing double tax that has been a hindrance to building a competitive business environment in Michigan. For decades, Michigan’s small businesses have paid not only a 6 percent sales tax on all of their equipment, but also an annual Personal Property Tax that never goes away, no matter how old the equipment is. This tax has been eliminated by most states in the Midwest, making Michigan less attractive to new investment and jobs. Site selectors have long cited the Personal Property Tax as one of the deterrents for investing here, unfairly putting Michigan businesses and manufacturers at a disadvantage nationwide. The repeal of the Personal Property Tax would create 15,000 jobs, increase business investment in Michigan by $450 million and bolster business attraction efforts. Proposal 1 also recognizes and supports the essential services that communities provide. It guarantees that municipalities will recuperate 100 percent of the funding lost due to the elimination of the tax and creates a more stable funding system for local services like police, fire, schools and parks. Most importantly, Proposal 1 is not a tax increase. It is paid for by eliminating special tax breaks the Michigan legislature has voted to end, and by establishing a statewide Essential Services Assessment paid only by manufacturers receiving a Personal Property Tax reduction. Again, the Chamber is grateful for your support and willingness to advocate on behalf of this critical issue. For any questions regarding this toolkit and its contents, please contact Director of Communications Jim Martinez at [email protected]

Talking Points  Proposal 1 removes an unfair, burdensome double tax on Michigan’s small businesses. For decades, Michigan’s small businesses have not only paid a 6 percent sales tax on all of their equipment, but also an annual Personal Property Tax that never goes away, no matter how old the equipment is.  Proposal 1 makes Michigan’s business environment more competitive. Site selectors have long cited the state’s Personal Property Tax as a major deterrent to attracting new businesses and investment. Furthermore, most states in the Midwest have already eliminated the antiquated tax, placing Michigan businesses at a distinct market disadvantage.  Proposal 1 would create thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars in business investment. The repeal of the state’s Personal Property Tax would create 15,000 jobs and $450 million in additional investment for Michigan.  Proposal 1 recognizes and supports the essential services local communities provide. Currently, municipalities depend on the Personal Property Tax to help fund vital city services, but the revenue is unreliable and subject to change. Proposal 1 guarantees that 100 percent of the revenue lost will be replaced, and creates a more stable and secure funding system for local services like police, fire, schools and parks. 

Proposal 1 doesn’t raise taxes. Most importantly, Proposal 1 is not a tax increase. It is paid for by eliminating special tax breaks and by establishing a statewide Essential Services Assessment paid only by manufacturers receiving a Personal Property Tax reduction.

Frequently Asked Questions What is Proposal 1?  Proposal 1 is an August 5 ballot referendum that, if passed, will eliminate Michigan’s Personal Property Tax, a burdensome double tax that businesses have been paying for decades.  Proposal 1 also creates a more stable and reliable funding system to support essential local community services like police, fire, parks and schools. What is the Personal Property Tax?  The Personal Property Tax is an antiquated double tax that Michigan businesses pay on all of their equipment, every year, in addition to the 6 percent sales tax paid at the time of purchase.  Most states in the Midwest have already eliminated the tax, placing Michigan businesses at an economic disadvantage and making the entire state less attractive to new jobs and investment. What will Proposal 1 mean for Michigan businesses?  Proposal 1, if passed, means that Michigan businesses will no longer have to pay the never-ending double tax on equipment. The referendum will immediately eliminate the Personal Property Tax for Michigan’s small businesses and phase the tax out over nine years for larger businesses.

What will Proposal 1 mean for local communities?  Proposal 1 guarantees that 100 percent of the revenue lost due to the elimination of the personal property tax will be replaced by funding through the State Use Tax.  Proposal 1 also creates a more stable and reliable funding system that local communities can depend on to help support essential services like police, fire, parks and schools. How many jobs will Proposal 1 create?  Proposal 1 will boost Michigan’s overall competitiveness and economic growth. The elimination of Michigan’s personal property tax will create 15,000 jobs and generate $450 million in additional business investment. Is Proposal 1 a tax increase?  No, Proposal 1 is not a tax increase for anyone. It is paid for by eliminating special tax breaks and by establishing a statewide Essential Services Assessment paid only by manufacturers receiving a Personal Property Tax reduction. What happens if Proposal 1 doesn’t pass?  If Proposal 1 doesn’t pass on the August 5 election, Michigan businesses will continue to pay the unfair double tax that has been a hindrance to building a competitive business environment and attracting new jobs and investment.  Funding for police, fire, parks, and schools and other essential local services will continue to remain unstable and unreliable.

Ballot Language Below is the exact language that will appear on ballots on August 5, 2014: APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF AMENDATORY ACT TO REDUCE STATE USE TAX AND REPLACE WITH A LOCAL COMMUNITY STABILIZATION SHARE TO MODERNIZE THE TAX SYSTEM TO HELP SMALL BUSINESS GROW AND CREATE JOBS The Amendatory act adopted by the Legislature would: 1) Reduce the state use tax and replace with a local community stabilization share of the tax for the purpose of modernizing the tax system to help small business grow and create jobs in Michigan. 2) Require Local Community Stabilization Authority to provide revenue to local governments dedicated for local purposes, including police safety, fire protection and ambulance emergency services. 3)

Increase portion of state use tax dedicated for aid to local school districts.

4)

Prohibit Authority from increasing taxes.

5)

Prohibit total use tax rate from exceeding constitutional 6% limitation.

Should this law be approved? Yes No

Sample Social Media Twitter: Hashtag: #YesOn1 Did you know Prop. 1 will create 15,000 jobs & $450M in business investment? Make sure to vote #YesOn1, Aug. 5: http://ow.ly/yugAA Prop. 1 removes an unfair double tax on MI's small businesses & keeps community funding strong. Vote #YesOn1, Aug. 5: http://ow.ly/yugAA Prop. 1 is a big win for #Michigan's small businesses & local communities. Learn why you should vote #YesOn1, Aug. 5: http://ow.ly/yugAA What is the Personal Property Tax? Learn how Prop. 1 eliminates this job-killing tax to make MI stronger: http://ow.ly/yugAA #YesOn1 Want to attract new jobs and investment to #Michigan? Learn how Prop. 1 helps the state’s economy grow: http://ow.ly/yugAA #YesOn1 Prop. 1 not only keeps our community funding strong, but also creates thousands of new MI jobs. Vote #YesOn1, Aug. 5: http://ow.ly/yugAA Discover how you can help MI's economy grow & keep communities strong, without raising taxes. Vote #YesOn1, Aug.5: http://ow.ly/yugAA Want to protect essential local services like police, fire, schools, and parks? Find out why you should vote #YesOn1: http://ow.ly/yugAA

Sample Social Media (cont.) Facebook: Hashtag: #YesOn1 For decades, Michigan’s small businesses have paid an unfair, burdensome double tax that has hindered economic growth for the entire state. Proposal 1 not only eliminates this tax, but also creates thousands of jobs and makes funding essential local services stable and reliable. Click here to learn more: http://ow.ly/yugAA #YesOn1 Did you know that Proposal 1 will create 15,000 jobs and generate $450 million in additional business investment? Click here to find out why a “yes” vote for Proposal 1 is a vote for Michigan’s continued economic growth: http://ow.ly/yugAA #YesOn1 Proposal 1 not only eliminates an unfair double tax, but also makes sure that funding for essential local services like police, fire, parks and schools is dependable, stable and reliable. Discover why Proposal 1 is a big win for both businesses and local communities: http://ow.ly/yugAA #YesOn1 With one simple vote you can help boost Michigan’s overall economic competitiveness and guarantee stable funding for local services – without raising taxes on anyone. On August 5, remember to vote “Yes” on Proposal 1: http://ow.ly/yugAA #YesOn1

Sample Emails Proposal 1 Makes Michigan Competitive, Keeps Communities Strong For decades, Michigan businesses have paid a double tax known as the Personal Property Tax. This regulation requires businesses to pay an annual tax on all of their equipment, no matter how old it is, in addition to the 6 percent sales tax paid at the time of purchase. While most states in the Midwest have either repealed or reduced their Personal Property Tax, Michigan hasn't, making the entire state less attractive to new jobs and investment and putting businesses at an immense competitive disadvantage. This tax hasn't just been a deterrent to economic growth. Communities also depend on the tax to fund essential services, but the revenue is often unpredictable and unreliable, making it difficult to budget and allocate effectively. This is why {we, organization Name} are/is supporting Proposal 1, a bipartisan statewide referendum that will not only eliminate Michigan’s personal property tax, but also create a more stable funding system that communities can rely on to support local services like police, fire, parks and schools, without raising taxes on anyone. Proposal 1, if passed, will provide an immediate boost to the Michigan economy, creating 15,000 jobs and generating $450 million in business investment. Furthermore, it guarantees that 100 percent of all revenue lost due to the elimination of the tax will be replaced, and that community funding remains strong and stable. On August 5, Michigan businesses and communities need you to vote “Yes” on Proposal 1. To show your support, or to learn more about how Proposal 1 is a win for all of Michigan, click here.

Sample Emails (cont.) Proposal 1 Makes Michigan More Competitive; Vote “Yes” August 5 For decades, Michigan businesses have paid a double tax known as the Personal Property Tax. This regulation requires businesses to pay an annual tax on all of their equipment, no matter how old it is, in addition to the 6 percent sales tax paid at the time of purchase. While most states in the Midwest have either repealed or reduced their Personal Property Tax, Michigan hasn't, making the entire state less attractive to new jobs and investment and putting businesses at an immense competitive disadvantage. This is why {we, organization Name} are/is supporting Proposal 1, a bipartisan statewide referendum that will eliminate Michigan’s personal property tax, creating 15,000 jobs and generating $450 million in business investment. On August 5, Michigan businesses and communities need you to vote “Yes” on Proposal 1. To show your support, or to learn more about how Proposal 1 is a win for all of Michigan, click here

Sample Emails (cont.) Proposal 1 Supports Local Communities & Services, Vote “Yes” August 5th Michigan’s personal property tax hasn’t just been a hindrance to economic growth. Local municipalities are forced to depend on the tax to fund essential city services, but the revenue is often unpredictable and unreliable, making it difficult to budget and allocate effectively. This is why {we, organization Name} are/is supporting Proposal 1, a bipartisan statewide referendum that will not only eliminate Michigan’s personal property tax, but also create a more stable funding system that communities can rely on to support local services like police, fire, parks, and schools, without raising taxes on anyone. Proposal 1 recognizes that local communities are key to a thriving Michigan, and guarantees that 100 percent of all revenue lost due to the elimination of the tax will be replaced. Furthermore, funding for services will remain strong and stable into the future. On August 5, Michigan businesses and communities need you to vote “Yes” on Proposal 1. To show your support, or to learn more about how Proposal 1 is a win for all of Michigan, click here.